Chapter 2

The plane landed in New York about 3 hours later and Molly and Allie got off and headed to baggage collection. The two of them headed out of the airport with their luggage on the trolleys and over to the taxis.

"Hi there, can we get a ride to Xavier's academy, Westchester?" Molly asked the taxi driver.

"Sure miss, that's an hour drive, it'll cost a bomb," the taxi driver explained as they loaded the bags in to the boot.

"That's fine," Molly said as she and Allie got in the car.

The hour drive went by uncomfortably, Allie wanted to ask questions but Molly motioned her not to. Most people around there weren't too fond of mutants so she wanted to keep their cover as much as possible.

Allie watched the scenery go by as the journey went on, she didn't notice that Molly was just as nervous as her, if not worse. Molly hadn't spoken to anyone from the academy in the 3 years she'd been gone. Pete was going to kill her and she didn't have a clue what Logan would do.

"Here we are girls," The taxi driver said, pulling up outside the gates.

"Thank you," Molly said, paying the driver and helping get the bags from the boot. He headed off leaving the two girls standing outside the gate.

"So, what now?" Allie asked to which Molly typed in a code on the side of the gate causing it to open.

"We go in," Molly said, picking up her bags and heading up the drive towards the mansion, which was eerily quiet. She pushed the main door open and headed in to the hallway.

"Oliver, if that's you and you haven't filled up my…" Logan shouted, coming out of the living room and pausing as he spotted Molly helping Allie get all the bags in the entrance hall.

Molly turned to face Logan who just stared at her, both of them noting how uncomfortable the silence between them was. It was soon broken by the professor coming out from his office and heading over to the two girls.

"Alexandra, would you like to follow me and let these two get reacquainted?" The professor asked, wheeling over to the young girl who immediately took a step behind Molly.

"Don't worry Allie, you'll be fine with him, just tell him what you told me," Molly said as she looked down at the girl and pushed her forwards towards the professor a little.

"You won't go anywhere will you?" Allie asked as she glanced back at Molly.

"I made a promise to your parents didn't I and you're dad scares me," Molly said, making Allie laugh a little before she headed away with the professor.

Logan watched the kid disappear in to the office before heading back in to the living room.

"Logan," Molly said making him turn to look at her.

"I have nothing to say to you," Logan replied simply, leaving her standing in the hallway on her own.

Molly sighed before heading in to the kitchen, in need of some painkillers. She'd been getting headaches on and off for the past year and always ended up turning to painkillers.

"Morning," Someone said as she walked in. Molly turned to see Jean leaning on the side with a cup of coffee in her hand.

"Hey," Molly said as she took the painkillers she was after before turning to Jean.

"Logan's just upset, no-one expected you to take off like you did," Jean said as she watched Molly.

"To be totally honest, neither did I," Molly replied, pouring herself some of the coffee that was still in the pot.

"Well, Logan didn't let anyone touch your room so it's exactly as you left it, I'll help you take your stuff up," Jean said as she stood up before putting a hand on Molly's shoulder and adding, "give him some time, he'll come round."

"Let's hope so," Molly said, following Jean out the room and heading up to put her stuff away, her room was, exactly how it had been when she'd left it. Not a single item had been moved, her bed was still unmade, her curtains still half drawn, her drawers still open where she'd hastily packed before leaving.

"I'll let you sort out. We're gonna put Alexandra in the room next to you, so she's got a familiar face nearby," Jean said, letting Molly's bags drop on to her bed.

"She prefers Allie, and thanks Jean," Molly said as she smiled at Jean before beginning to unpack.

The time alone gave Molly some time to think, she hadn't exactly expected a warm welcome but she'd expected Logan to at least talk to her. She headed to the window and sat on the seat, watching a few of the older kids below, the ones that had chosen to stay over the summer or had nowhere else to go.

"Molly?" The professor asked, appearing in her doorway and pulling her out of her own little world.

"Oh, Professor, hi," Molly said as she stood up, mentally slapping herself for not even noticing him turn up.

"How have you been? You left in rather a hurry," The professor said, heading towards her and stopping by her bed.

"I did didn't I… I suppose I didn't handle the whole Kristy thing that well," Molly replied before adding, "Allie's a lot like her," as she spotted the girl in the grounds.

"Allie's a sweet girl, she said you're like a big sister," The professor replied, noticing how Molly watched the young girl in the grounds. She'd already met a few of the kids her age and seemed to just fit in.

"Molly, the thing with Kristy was not your fault and Allie is not Kristy," He said as he Molly sat back down again.

"I know… they're just so alike," Molly said simply to which the professor patted her shoulder. People seemed to keep patting her shoulder.

"One more thing Molly, Logan took you're leaving a little harsh, let him come round in his own time," The professor said before heading out.

"I don't have any other choices," Molly muttered simply before going back to sorting out her stuff.

Molly headed down to the gym a few hours later and stood in the doorway looking around the currently empty room. She was in her leotard with her trousers and jacket on over the top. As her feet pulled her towards the spring loaded floor she pulled her jacket off, sticking it on the floor and switched the music player on that was sitting on the bench next to it.

"I wonder," Molly muttered as she headed to the corner of the matt, taking the trousers off on the way, leaving her in only her leotard.

She positioned herself and focused on the opposite corner of the matt before taking off in a run and going through a tumbling sequence, ending it in an almost perfect double Arabian.

"So this is the infamous Molly Howlett," A man said making Molly spin round to face him.

"That all depends on who's asking the question," Molly replied, tilting her head slightly as she headed over and put her jacket back on.

"I'm Brett, The new gym coach. Got told by Logan that I had high standards to match up too and now I see what he meant," The guy said, heading over to shake her hand.

"Wow… and there's Logan not even talking to me," Molly replied, raising her eyebrows and shaking his hand before going back to the matt, chucking her jacket off and stretching out.

"I heard you took off pretty quickly last time, how comes?" Brett asked, sitting on the bench and watching her.

"None of your business," Molly replied simply before launching in to another tumbling routine, finishing with a front double twist.

"Logan said you were back, I didn't believe him," Someone said from the doorway.

"Pete," Molly said simply before heading over to him without even looking at Brett, "I'm so sorry I didn't say goodbye, I just… I had to go."

"I get it Molly, I just wish you'd have said something," Pete said as he walked in and pulled her in to a hug.

"I know, I really am sorry," Molly said, pulling away from the hug and smiling before hugging him again.